Farewell Tears

Ruth 1:6-14

Isn’t it interesting how God made men and women so different? In general, women are very emotional, and many will cry anywhere. They do not care who sees them. The expressions of their emotions are part of who they are. Then, men (in general) will do everything in their power to not cry in front of other people. They will go off somewhere alone if they feel like they are going to be emotional. I’m not being critical of men or women. Let’s be honest though, how difficult is it for you to imagine a group of men standing in the middle of the road and crying because they are parting company after suffering a tragic loss? You are probably like me and have a much easier time picturing this scene with a group of women.

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Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”

So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

Ruth 1:6-14

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Naomi received word that there was food again in Bethlehem. With the death of her husband and sons, there was nothing left for her in Moab. So, Naomi decides to go home. Bread has returned to the House of Bread (Bethlehem) and being a widow, she needs the provision so that she can go on living herself.

Ruth and Orpah follow Naomi for a while, but she eventually stops and tells them to return home to their families. She had nothing to offer them, and she has no more sons for them to marry. She felt they would be much better off returning to their fathers’ homes.

The name Orpah means “gazelle”. It carries the idea of being graceful and beautiful. When urged by her mother-in-law to return home, Orpah was obedient. I don’t think there is adequate evidence in the scripture to criticize Orpah for going home. Going home was rational, pragmatic, and as mentioned before, obedient to what her elder told her to do. The only thing we can really say is that it wasn’t the best choice.

The name Ruth means “friendship”. Without going too far, that is one of the central themes of this book. Ruth, living up to her name, not only protests Naomi’s urging for her to return to her father’s house, but she clings to Naomi with an embrace. It is the hug of a friend that cannot bear to part from another friend.

Isn’t it great when families get along! The sons that bound these women together were gone, and yet they loved each other. This was a very emotional parting. Not one was looking at the others and saying, “Good riddance”. Families should get along and love each other. It should be emotional when we part company; especially when tragedy has been involved.

I want to add one last comment, it is really difficult for me to not barrel forward into this story. If you know the story of Ruth and Naomi, then you know we have a lot to look forward to. If you do not know the story, hang in there. It really is a great story, and there is a lot of great theology in it that deals with us today!

Father, this is one of my favorite stories from the Bible, and I thank You for including it for our learning. I pray that through this study we would have a greater love for You and a greater appreciation for both the complexity and the simplicity of Your plan of redemption.